How Much Does Veterinary School Cost?

The cost of veterinary school ranges from $6000-$42,000 annually, depending on location, school, and what courses students take. The average cost of veterinary school is around $15,000-$18,000 annually. Most students finish veterinary school in 4-6 years depending on the courses they take. The total cost of vet school ranges from $24,000-$250,000. Veterinary school cost is less expensive at a state school than at a private school, and it is usually cheaper to go to an in-state school, than an out of state school. In addition, students will have to spend 2-4 years in university before entering veterinary school; this will cost an additional $20,000-$70,000, depending on the location, school and what courses the student takes. In the United States, veterinarian graduates have one of the highest debt to salary ratios of all professionals. Most veterinarians make about $60,000 a year when first starting out and about $90,000 annually once they become established.

Average Cost Of Veterinary School

The average cost of veterinary school is around $15,000-$18,000 a year. However, veterinary school cost ranges from $6000-$42,000 annually. Veterinarian school lasts 4-6 years depending on the courses taken by the student. The total cost of veterinary school is $24,000- $250,000. The cost of vet school varies greatly depending on location, school and what courses are taken. Private schools charge more than state schools, and it usually saves students money to attend an in-state school rather than an out of state school. The average student spends around $2000 annually on books and equipment for veterinary school.

Doctor Of Veterinary Medicine

The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine is the highest degree of education a veterinarian can achieve; it is the bachelor degree of veterinarian medicine in North America. To achieve a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, students are usually required to do the full six years of veterinary school. The courses required to achieve a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree tend to be expensive. The cost of veterinary school for a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree ranges from $18,000-$42,000 annually. For a four-year course, veterinary school costs to achieve a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree are $72,000-$170,000. For a six-year course, veterinary school cost to achieve a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree is $110,000-$250,000. About 50% of students who get their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree go on to open their own veterinary clinic.

How To Become A Veterinarian

Becoming a veterinarian requires hard work and dedication on the student’s part. Most students will spend 8-10 years in post-secondary school becoming a veterinarian. Veterinary school prerequisites for becoming a veterinarian are at least an 80% grade point average during high school with a focus on biology, science, physics, math, and English. Students will also need 2-4 years in university with at least an 80% grade point average with a focus on biology, chemistry, physics and animal physiology. Veterinary school prerequisites also include having some hands on experience working in a veterinarian clinic; most veterinarian schools require around 500 hours of hands on experience working with animals. When applying for veterinary school, students should apply to 3-5 schools. The total cost of becoming a veterinarian ranges from $44,000-$320,000 depending on location, school and what courses the student takes. The average total cost of becoming a veterinarian is around $135,000.

Veterinary School Requirements

There are certain prerequisites for veterinarian school that must be met by students before they will be accepted into the school. Veterinarian education requirements include a high school diploma with an 80% or higher grade point average and at least 2-4 years in college or university with an 80% or higher grade point average. While in university, students do not have to major in science, but they must take biology, genetics, microbiology, chemistry, physics and animal physiology to meet veterinarian education requirements. Prerequisites for veterinarian school also include at least 500 hours of working with animals. The hands on experience working with animals should include some time in a veterinarian office and should include similar animals to what the student would like to focus on. Students can get the practical experience they need by volunteering at veterinarian clinics, zoos, animal rescues, farms and other similar places.

How Long Is Veterinary School?

Most students take 4-6 years to complete veterinarian school. The length of time students take to complete school varies on what courses students take and if they get their Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine degree or not. As students require at least two years of university before entering veterinarian school, most students will spend a total of 8-10 years in post-secondary school to become veterinarians. During this time a student spends in school becoming a veterinarian they will spend $20,000-$70,000 on the cost of pre-veterinary school college or university and $24,000-$250,000 on the cost of veterinary school. In addition, during the time a student spends in school becoming a veterinarian they will spend $16,000-$20,000 on schoolbooks and equipment.

Online Veterinary School

Online veterinarian colleges are a great way for students to get a start on their veterinary career. Due to the hands on experience needed to be a veterinarian there are no online colleges that offer a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. However, there are online veterinarian colleges to help someone become a veterinarian technician or a veterinarian assistant. Online veterinarian colleges vary greatly in price. Some online colleges cost almost as much as a regular college, while others are substantially less expensive. The average online veterinarian college charges around $1000 per course. The average course takes 6-8 months to complete. Many online veterinarian colleges do not require students to have any previous university experience, which saves students money on the cost of veterinary school.